Individual variation across PROP and thermal taste phenotypes

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Yang, Qian (2015) Individual variation across PROP and thermal taste phenotypes. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

PROP taster status (PTS) has long been investigated, but thermal taster status (TTS), where thermal tasters (TTs) perceive a ‘phantom taste’ from temperature stimulation is less well understood.

This research aimed to understand the impact of both taste phenotypes (TTS and PTS), together with other potential markers, on oronasal sensitivity, whilst also considering temperature effects. Over 200 volunteers were screened for these taste phenotypes, and a subset assessed for TAS2R38 and gustin genotypes and fungiform papillae count. Sensitivity to a range of oronasal stimuli was measured and compared within and across taste phenotypes. In addition, fMRI was applied to investigate cortical activations to sensory stimuli (including temperature effect) among TTS.

Both PTS and TTS impacted on oronasal sensitivity, however, TTS had a greater impact when testing the anterior tip of the tongue. TTs demonstrated a greater sensitivity to temperature compared to TnTs. For PTS, neither TAS2R38 nor gustin rs2274333 genotype could explain the heightened sensitivity in PROP tasters.

Although PTS and TTS were shown to be independent phenotypes, the intensity advantage gained by TTs was more apparent in pMTs than already highly sensitive pSTs.

The mechanism driving TTS is unknown, the fMRI study showed that TTs had an increased cortical activation in the somatosensory cortex with cold sucrose stimulation compared to TnTs. This finding together with the sensory data added weight to a proposed hypothesis of cross-wiring between taste and trigeminal nerves in TTs.

This research also looked at the relationship between taste phenotypes and personal traits. Interestingly, TTS was associated with food behaviour, whereas PTS was not. In addition, both TTS and PTS were shown to be associated with personality features, in particular ‘openness’ and ‘Conscientiousness’ dimensions respectively.

This original research advances current understanding concerning how combinations of different taste phenotypes affect oral sensitivity and presents novel findings concerning a link between some personal traits and taste phenotypes.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Hort, Joanne
Keywords: Taste phenotypes; Oronasal sensitivity; Personal traits
Subjects: Q Science > QP Physiology
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences
Item ID: 56688
Depositing User: Yang, Qian
Date Deposited: 11 Aug 2025 07:29
Last Modified: 11 Aug 2025 07:29
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/56688

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